Yule of 1985.
"Characterise people by their actions and you'll never be fooled by their words." Severus had said to her when he received the invitation for the Yule Ball held by Selwyn's this year. An atrocious but well off family that had survived purely due to the the money that had existed in their vaults. One of the few reasons why they were respected too.
Dorothea stood on the entrance wearing a black-she wanted to match with Severus-dress with lace ribbons and boots that looked straight out of eighteenth century. Her hair had finally been cut off a little and now reached her waist-which considering her height was still a lot. Oh and her height had grown too, almost by 4 centimetres, she felt quite proud of that. Severus stood beside her, holding her hand in a tight grip, and started walking towards the front door. They had apparated here, to this pureblood gala/death eater dance and gossip party.
She had been consistently warned by Severus to be aware of her words and actions that would be no doubt-judged by everyone here. She had gained quite a reputation especially more so when they realised just who had been standing behind her. They were curious undoubtedly so and Severus unwillingly was here to satisfy it because he knows that whatever future endeavours that are swimming in Dorothea's mind will come true here.
"Master Snape" Alexis Selwyn greeted him, Lord of the House Selwyn, as soon as he crossed the threshold and entered that hall. His wife stood beside him-the third wife-he remembered and nodded to both of them in response, "Lord Selwyn, Lady Selwyn…." he didn't bow or anything, he was far too snotty for that but he did manage to subdue his voice for it to not come of as disrespectful.
"Excellent choice of decoration." And he genuinely did mean that, his wife nodded beside him with a smile and curiously they both peered at the young girl that stood silent behind him. They knew who she was-everyone did, but it was polite to ask.
"My ward-" he brought her forward, "Dorothea Vandeleur, these are the host of this party." Dorothea played the role perfectly. She held Severus's hand and bowed down to greet herself-she was a nobody after all, "Thank you for inviting me to the ball Lord Selwyn and Lady Selwyn." Sierra Selwyn greeted her with an equally soft voice-how fake-he thought, and continued on with small talks.
"Please help yourself with the refreshments Severus, I'll go and greet the other guest." Alexis said as he spotted the next pair arrive and quickly ushered them in towards the next room. He was glad to escape it too.
All Dorothea could see was feet and dresses filled with extravagant details-did they not know about subtlety-moving around in circles with the fake laugh in full force, the kind that her mother would write about, Severus was soon greeted by a row of acquaintances and she stopped down each time to greet them and smile politely like a shy little girl-all the while holding onto Severus pants. It said a lot, her actions implied her dependence and trust on Snape and also him being indulgent towards her. The trust was mutual, they murmured.
In this room, each person played the part of Slytherin perfectly, except some dunderheads who thought with their hearts and not brains. The party was decorated up to the theme of the Yule, just more in icy tone.
"My, my I've already heard a lot about little miss Vandeleur here!" A man bellowed with a laugh, indirectly the question was-is it all true? She just gave a sweet smile and said nothing. As if she's waste her words on the bald man. Before long Severus had a strained voice after speaking to all those men and women who wanted nothing but to forcefully grab the child and interrogate her for information that they could later gossip on during their tea time. Trophy wives and generational born morons truly fit together like a glove.
"Ah Severus my friend!", she cackled the true fun had finally arrived, "Lucius, Narcissa." Severus nodded curtly, his tired eyes and sneering voice gave everything away.
"Baspin Cooknooks Severus?" Narcissa offered, as expected of a pureblood wife-straight to the point. Baspin Cooknooks had been a huge hit among the general population due to its creative design and melting cloud like taste. Recently just a month ago in November, the outlet of Hiraeth had opened up in Diagon Alley with a collaboration of a clothing store called 'Kalon'. The brand service had attracted the rich class while the downstairs store served the middle class. With various designs and accessories and exceptional quality materials one can just imagine the chaos it created in a few weeks.
The only thing that made it out of place was the name Vandeleur, an unknown one that had managed to make outlets rave about it for weeks. First with the cafe and now with the clothing store. It was hard to ignore it.
The store fell nothing short of luxury as soon as you would step foot in it. The three floors each held a different purpose. A thrift shop down in the basement, a clothing store with newest designs on the ground floor and an adjoined cafe on the right side that trailed upto the first floor. The second floor consisted of private floo entry and personal client service on appointment with the best materials available in the market. The third floor was offices and design parlour.
Safe to say Master Octavius Balker had quickly became a favourite designer over the French and Italian ones.
"He loves it." She says while giving a huge grin, Severus scoffs at her but doesn't deny it. Narcissa now smiles with more than something amusement in there, she bows down in response and introduces herself in the same manner. Lucius Malfoy at the side gives a plainly fake smile, "We weren't aware that you were the same age as our son. I would have introduced you to him long before."
"That's because she isn't. Might not look like it but she's two years older-" Severus says and Lucius raised his eyes brows, maltreated by past guardians perhaps-his mind already presenting more than twenty possibilities to turn the situation into his favour and yet he stopped because of his relationship with his friend. No political games in front of Severus as he isn't fond of it.
~
Narcissa Malfoy was a mother with a golden heart that only had a golden feeling for little Draco. Yes, she loved her husband but there was always feelings of resentment buried deep inside that golden heart during the years of 1980 and 1981. The year when both of them survived barely on the line of duty and sin as they served the Dark Lord and also keep up the perfect appearance of their mask. With the birth of their son and the dark times ahead Narcissa started fearing a lot of things ans she started to despise a lot of things too. While she was grateful that she was smart enough to not end up like Sirius Black and not stupid enough to end up like her sister and husband, Bellatrix and Rodophlous Lestrange.
Her mind and heart had wished for another child after the turbulent times but alas she didn't have it in her. Draco was her whole world, her son for whom her soul would sing all the beautiful melodies in the world, yet sometimes she would think about a daughter-someone like Dorothea Vandeleur. A little girl who had managed to work her way into the heart of one of the most slippery and difficult man like Severus Snape should receive a standing ovation.
Dorothea sat on his lap, opposite of them as she happily munched on the treats in front of her table. They looked like father and daughter, both dressed in black and yet Severus with his cold face couldn't stop the smile that slipped on as he looked at the girl on his lap.
Truly marvellous.
"How's Draco doing?" Severus asked and Lucius instantly answered-always looking for signs to boast about him, "He's already started his lessons from the tutors. Taken an interest in arithmancy and potions." Lucius was probing him, seeing if he would be intrested in providing him further potions lessons and possibly held a small hope that he would bring the Vandeleur girl along. She could be a great friend and foe to him, better than Crabbe and Goyle at least.
"Dorothea doesn't need any kind of tutors, she's already started learning everything on her own, although her concentration level is questionable sometimes." Severus said with a twitch of his lips while Dorothea choked on her cookie. "There there" Severus said as he patted her back, Dorothea glared back.
'My my' Narcissa thought, 'Seems like her husband and her child's godfather will be having a competition soon enough, bragging-she never expected that from Severus.'
"Do come to our house Dorothea-may I call you that?" Dorothea gave a bright smile and Lucius smiled back. "My son, Draco would love your company."
Another blonde brat, Dorothea snickered silently, she'll have fun with him too.
~
Draco Malfoy stared at his new guest with fat tears in his eyes that seem to threaten to burst anytime soon and shower everywhere just like they showed in muggle cartoons. He looked at his toys that were now hanging down from the bookshelves-his favourite toys-and his drawing that the new guest, Doro something had drawn. She said she had drawn him but, but the figure looked so ugly. It had two teeth missing and-he hiccuped-his hair was in all direction. He had slicked back hair like his father. His hair wasn't like this. He had seen in the mirror. The girl was cruel.
A hand patted his head and he looked up, "alright alright" she said, "Don't cry, you're a good boy aren't you. I was just joking look-" she pointed at the portrait, it had changed, his eyes went wide. Now his hair wasn't fuzzy and his front teeth that had broken a couple of days ago weren't visible. His smile was. The tears rolled back down as he sat admiring his own portrait. He was handsome-his mind said. He nodded in agreement.
Somewhere someone snorted and he looked up, "Doro don't do that."
"Do what?" Dorothea raised her eyebrows in question.
"That laugh, the one where sounds come from. Mother says only bad people do it and I'm not bad so I don't do it and you shouldn't too. It's bad manners." He added at last wanting to make sure she doesn't do it in front of someone else and get scolded. He knows scolding always makes him cry and he doesn't want doro to cry so soon. She made him a pretty portrait after all.
"Say little Draco-what's your family like?" She wanted to write a spin off about a blonde family suddenly and, she shrugged, Malfoy's seemed like the perfect inspiration.
"My family is Mother and Father. Both are very nice and give me everything I want." He couldn't think of anything else. His two feet stood up on the plush carpet and trodded around the room in circles looking for his favourite things to show to his new friend. Yes Doro was now his friend.
So a stereotypical blonde family-but they had platinum hair didn't they. Huh.
Severus hadn't taken up on his offer to come back to the Malfoy Manor and so Lord and Lady Malfoy took it upon themselves and dropped Draco to his house. Currently Severus was in the basement while Draco alongside his two large boxes of his favourite things that were now scattered around in her room. She was having fun-Draco although young was capable of showing off and that had made her amused. The man had long since gone to back to potions lab to complete a very very important potion as he had emphasised early and told them to not disturb him.
So Dorothea was in charge to little Draco. And they were having a blast right now, according to her.
They moved onto different games and by the time evening came arounds Severus abandoned his lab and climbed upwards. The soft glow of the sun, on the edge of going down, flowed in the room, bathing it in a warm glow of a sunlight. It was the only room in the house that felt comfortable and airy. Untainted from the other evil that lurked in the house. Draco and Dorothea both laid on the bed, her hand tightly clutching the green book that still laid opened-she was reading him a story. Draco slept comfortably on the bed and seemed to have exhausted himself-they both seemed to.
Before leaving the room, a soft click of the button ensured that the moment was captured. It was soon packed into a letter-4 copies made and one of them was delivered to the Malfoy mansion.
~
Mr. Wildenburg loved when books became famous, that usually mean more money into his pockets-he loves money and gold. He gleefully presented the new collection of a series to his friends and colleagues….an in ardent way to make sure that these would reach masses and with great vigour saw the rest of the country consume it with mass vigour. He will have to thank the author and their guardian who decided to give him permission to produce these books in mass quantities. After all they were now his benefactors.
Whence Publishings owed them this time as they saved him and his company from goblin's clutches and humiliation.
Everyone stayed in a state of bliss, ignorance as they continued to ignore the marks, the taunts and the subtle gestures when the topic of war came up. She ignored, ignored and ignored because that's what she was expected to, because that's what she was suppose to as a child.